Curated OER
Plate Tectonics: Third Grade Lesson Plans and Activities
Third graders examine plate movements and boundaries with a lab that demonstrates how volcanoes and earthquakes are formed. It presents different types of stresses an object can withstand through a hands-on experiment with clay to...
California Academy of Science
Carbon Cycle Role Play
Anytime you make concepts clear with role playing or hands-on experience, it's a win for the whole class. Ping-Pong balls are used to represent carbon in a carbon cycle role-play activity. In small groups, children first discuss what...
US Geological Survey
The Water Cycle for Schools: Intermediate Ages
Water can travel from the highest mountain tops to the largest oceans. Using an interactive, young scientists trace the movement using an interactive online resource. They follow the water cycle by reading pop-up explanations on a...
University of Texas
Matter and the Periodic Table Chemical Families and Periodic Trends
Is assembling the periodic table as simple as Tetris? Scholars arrange colored cards into a logical order and then make connections to the arrangement of the periodic table. Hands-on activities include adding trend arrows and analyzing...
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Investigating Evidence
Explore the scientific process through nature. Scholars become scientists as they develop a question, design an experiment, collect data, and analyze their results. A two-week lesson guides your classes through the process and provides...
Pace University
Pollution
Over the course of 10 days, scholars take a pre-assessment to place them in one of three leveled groups. Whole-class and in small groups, pupils take part in read-alouds, field trips, hands-on activities, and complete learning contracts...
Lunar and Planetary Institute
Oreo Moon Phases
Learning about the moon has never tasted delicious! Using the popular Oreo cookie as a model, young scientists carve out the cream filling to represent the different phases of the moon.
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Rocks and Minerals in Our Lives
Young geologists discover the important role that rocks and minerals play in our everyday lives through this series of hands-on activities. Starting off with a lesson that defines the difference between plants, animals, and minerals,...
Colorado State University
How Can Clouds Keep the Air Warmer?
Condensing water warms the air around it. Young scholars consider this concept as they experiment with air temperature around evaporating and condensing water vapor. They simulate the formation of clouds to experience the associated...
Curated OER
The Earth Around Us: Air, Water & Soil
Second graders explore erosion and find the factors effecting erosion of hillsides. In this erosion lesson, 2nd graders experiment by creating a hillside and simulating rain. Students discuss and record their results on a worksheet.
Curated OER
Scientists Discover Giant Frog Fossil
Students examine a world map and read a news article about the discovery of a giant frog fossil. In this earth science and current event lesson plan, the teacher introduces an article with a discussion about continental drift and a...
Curated OER
Prehistoric Discoveries
Students agree or disagree with several statements about ancient animals, then read a news article about recent prehistoric discoveries. In this earth science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
Curated OER
Land Formations
Second graders explore land formations. In this science lesson plan, 2nd graders develop an understanding of how land is naturally developed, investigate several land formations as well as earth science and chemical terminology, and ...
Curated OER
The Mathematics of Convection: Nature's Model for Energy Production
High schoolers conduct a series of experiments to investigate density, buoyancy and climate. In this math lesson, pupils design and build a hot air balloon to demonstrate convection. They research and write a paper about solar chimneys.
Curated OER
El sistema solar
Everyone loves learning about space; there's something incredible about how all of this came to be, isn't there? Engage your Spanish language learners with this interesting topic. First, have each pupil cut out their vocabulary...
Curated OER
The Earth
Third graders examine the relationship between the Earth and the Sun. They define key vocabulary terms, and in small groups conduct Internet research, exploring a variety of websites. Students answer comprehension questions, and...
Curated OER
Environment Vocabulary Quiz
In this environment vocabulary worksheet, students draw lines to match 13 words to their definitions in another column. Words pertain to the environment. Examples: biosphere, habitat, greenhouse effect, smog.
Curated OER
Space Vocabulary Quiz
In this space vocabulary worksheet, students draw lines to match 14 vocabulary words pertaining to space with their definitions.
Curated OER
Motion Near Earth
In this motion worksheet, students will match 5 physics vocabulary words relating to motion with their definitions. Then, they will review 9 statements of different motion scenarios to determine is the statement is true or false....
Curated OER
Earthquake Science Project
Students simulate the Earth's plates moving like an earthquake by using newspaper and soil. In this earthquake lesson plan, students push and pull the newspaper together that has soil on top and observe what happens.
Curated OER
The Earth-Moon System
In this Earth and moon worksheet, students will review the different phases of the moon, how eclipses are created, and how the moon influences tidal patterns. This worksheet has 13 fill in the blank, 8 true or false, and 2 short answer...
Curated OER
Influential Scientists Vocabulary Multiple Choice Worksheet
In this influential scientists worksheet, students read the definitions of 19 science professions. From 4 choices, students choose the correct name of the job that fits the definition. Example: studies birds (ornithologist).
Curated OER
Forces in Earth
In this Earth's forces worksheet, students will review the characteristics of earthquakes, including types of faults. Students will interpret a seismograph read-out from an earthquake. Students will complete 10 fill in the blank...
Curated OER
Forces Inside Earth
In this Earth's forces worksheet, students will review vocabulary words associated with plate tectonics. This worksheet has 8 fill in the blank questions.